In-Feed Distributing Unit

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an in-feed distributing unit for distributing an uneven stream of individual elongated objects prior to be grading.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an in-feed distributing unit fordistributing an uneven stream of individual elongated objects prior tograding.

BACKGROUND

The grading of objects such as fish and marine species such as capilion,herring, shrimp as well as other species can be a difficult task. Thereason being their small size and the volume to be processed at eachtime combined with that the quality of fish deteriorates quickly if notstored at sub zero temperature. The grading therefore has to be highlyefficient.

The purpose of the grading is primarily to separate each species by sizeand/or sex.

An effective apparatus exist using a plurality of endless ridge beltswhich are drawn by a drive along guiding units. The distance between thebelts being wider at the output end than at the intake end so that theobjects falls down into grading compartments as the distance between thebelts gets greater than the objects.

An essential part for such grading machines is the in-feeding mechanismfor ensuring that the objects, when they enter the in-feed end of thegrading machine, are uniformly distributed. This has been solved indifferent ways. One preferred way is to use a plurality of inclinestages/steps as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,914, for example withthree stages, where the first stage, which is provided with firstcorrugated plate The second stage, which is positioned under the firststage, is provided with a second corrugated plate. Accordingly, from thefirst stage one stream of objects is formed as the objects slide fromthe first stage to the second stage, where four streams of objects areformed that leave the second stage and enter the third stage wherefinally six streams of objects are formed that leave the third stage andenter the in-feed end of the grading machine. In WO 03/043428 an in-feeddistributing unit is presented having a partly movable (eccentric)movable base in-feeding unit. Additionally in U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,914relates to grading unit having non-movable in-feed unit.

The problem with such feeding mechanism is how space demanding and slowit is and that the distribution and delivery of objects there from couldbe better.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a feeding mechanismfor objects such as capilion, herring and shrimps, that both requiresless space than known mechanism and increases the distribution andcorrect the orientation of the objects before entering the in-feed partof grading machines.

According to the first aspect the present invention relates to anin-feed distributing unit for distributing an uneven stream ofindividual objects intended to be graded or handled in other way,wherein the distributing unit comprises.

-   -   a frame,    -   a first in-feeding unit,    -   a first conveyor arranged below said in-feeding unit having a        first conveyor speed receiving objects from said first in-feed        unit, and    -   alternatively a second conveyor arranged below said firs        conveyor having a second conveyor speed receiving objects from        said first conveyor,    -   grading unit arranged below said first or second conveyor for        receiving and grading objects from said conveyors,        wherein said first conveyor comprising a plurality of first set        of divider plates and alternatively said second conveyor        comprising a plurality of second set of divider plates, said        plates arranged side by side and parallel to the conveying        direction along the upper surface of said conveyor, thereby        forming a plurality of conveying channels there in-between, and        allowing delivery of said elongated objects onto said grading        unit in a longitudinal direction.

In one preferred embodiment the in-feed distributing unit furthercomprises a plurality of additional dividing boards extendedside-by-side substantially parallel to the conveying direction arrangedin-between said grading means and said first or second conveyor adaptedto ensure that the objects falling from said conveyor arrive at thegrading unit parallel to it's conveying direction. Furthermore eachrespective dividing board is substantially parallel to the conveyingdirection. Additionally each respective board being triangular in shapedwith two upwardly facing down-slanting sides. The dividing boards arestep-wise shape in its longitudinal direction along the conveyingdirection. Said divider plates position is individually transversallyadjustable.

The number of conveyors is at least two. The conveyor speed increase pr.conveyor in the conveying direction.

According to the second aspect the present invention relates to a methodfor distributing an uneven stream of individual elongated objectsintended to be graded or handled in other way, said method comprising:

-   -   feeding the objects to be graded onto a first conveyor,    -   advancing said objects along a first and alternatively second        conveyor having first and alternatively second conveying speed,    -   arranging plurality of dividing plates side by side and        longitudinally along the upper surface of said conveyor, thereby        forming a plurality of conveying channels there in-between,    -   delivering said objects from said conveyor onto a grader in a        uniform longitudinal direction of conveyance.

The object may be marine species such as capilion and/or herring and/orshrimps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following the present invention and in particular preferredembodiments thereof are described in more details in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which

FIGS. 1 and 2 shows a side and top view of an in-feed distributing unit,

FIGS. 3 and 4 shows one embodiment of a dividing board adapted to ensurethat the objects falling from a conveyor to a grading means lie parallelto the conveying direction,

FIGS. 4 and 5 shows perspective view of the in-feed distributing unit,

FIGS. 1 and 2 shows a side and top view of the in-feed distributingunit, showing a first conveyor 3 running at a conveyor speed v1, and asecond conveyor (4) running at a second conveyor speed v2, dividingboards (5), a grading unit (6). Each of the conveyor (3, 4) having aplurality of longitudinally arranged dividing plates (7, 8) formingplurality of channels there in-between.

When the objects, which may be capilion, herring or shrimps, enter thefirst conveyor they either directly enter the channels or are pulledtherein by the conveyor. Due to the width of each channels, which isadjustable according to the objects (size) which is to be grades, theorientation of the object is rearranged to be longitudinal rather thantransverse. The distance between the plates is thus adjusted to be smallenough to allow longitudinal conveyance of the object, but nottransverse, so that if the objects being fish its orientation isrearranged to become longitudinal.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of FIG. 1. At the in-feed device (2) thereceived object is relative localized while at the grading unit area (6)the objects have been distributed where they drop to the first conveyor(3), which is running at speed v1 which is preferably higher than thespeed of the objects at the in-feed device (2). It follows that theobjects are distributed additionally along the conveying directionindicated by the arrows in FIG. 2. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and2, there is second conveyor (4) running at speed v2, where v2 is largerthan v1. Therefore, the objects are again distributed additionally inthe conveying direction. The objects are here ready to be directed tothe grading means, wherein the grading means may be similar as describedin U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,607. A plurality of dividing boards (5) arearranged in between said grading means and the second conveyor (4) tofurther support that the orientation of the objects is parallel to themoving direction of the grading means as indicated by the arrows (21).The number of conveyors may easily be varied, i.e. from a singleconveyor to a plurality of conveyors. This may depend on the products tobe graded, the material of the conveyor belt, and the friction betweenthe objects to be graded and the conveyor belt. What is essential hereis that the distribution of the objects is sufficient so that thequality of the grading may be maximized.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the side and a front view of one embodiment of thedividing boards. In this embodiment the dividing boards have stepwiseconstruction. They may also be incline or have different shape (notshown). It is important that the construction of the dividing boards issuch that when the object from the second conveyor fall onto thedividing boards the orientation of those objects, which is not parallelto the conveying direction, will be parallel to the conveying directionafter falling onto the boards. The dividing boards are therefore adaptedto correct the orientation of those objects which orientation is notsuitable for the grading.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of FIG. 1 showing first in-feeding unit(2) delivering the objects to be graded onto the first conveyor (3). Theconveyor running at a first conveyor speed (v1) having a plurality ofdividing plates (7) forming plurality of conveying channels thereinbetween. Elongated objects arriving at the conveyor are directed intothe channels and their orientation adjuster so that when they aredelivered from the conveyor either to the next conveyor (4) or thegrading unit (6) they are lengthwise orientated in the conveyordirection.

FIG. 6 shows in further details on conveyor (3, 4) having a plurality ofdividing plates (7, 8). As the objects enter the conveyor they fall orare pulled in between the dividing plates where their orientationrearranged to be longitudinal in the direction of conveyance in stead oftransverse.

1. In-feed distributing unit for distributing an uneven stream ofindividual elongated objects prior to grading, comprising: a frame, afirst in-feeding unit, a first conveyor arranged below said in-feedingunit having a first conveyor speed receiving objects from said firstin-feed unit, and alternatively a second conveyor arranged below saidfirst conveyor having a second conveyor speed receiving objects fromsaid first conveyor, grading unit arranged below said first or secondconveyor for receiving and grading objects from said conveyors, whereinsaid first conveyor comprises a plurality of first set of divider platesand alternatively said second conveyor comprising a second set ofdivider plates, said plates arranged side by side and parallel to theconveying direction along the upper surface of said conveyor, therebyforming a plurality of conveying channels there in-between, and allowingdelivery of said elongated objects onto said grading unit in alongitudinal direction, a plurality of additional dividing boardsextended side-by-side substantially parallel to the conveying directionarranged in-between said grading means and said first or second conveyoradapted to ensure that the objects falling from said conveyor arrive atthe grading unit parallel to its conveying direction.
 2. (canceled) 3.In-feed distributing unit according to claim 1, wherein each respectivedividing board is substantially parallel to the conveying direction. 4.In-feed distributing unit according to claim 3, wherein each respectiveboard being triangular in shaped with two upwardly facing down-slantingsides.
 5. In-feed distributing unit according to claim 4, wherein saiddividing boards are step-wise shape in its longitudinal direction alongthe conveying direction.
 6. In-feed distributing unit according to claim1, wherein the number of conveyors is at least two.
 7. In-feeddistributing unit according to claim 6, wherein the conveyor speed ofsuccessive conveyors increases in the conveying direction.
 8. In-feeddistributing unit according to claim 1, wherein said divider platesposition is individually transversally adjustable.
 9. A method fordistributing an uneven stream of individual elongated objects intendedto be graded or handled in another way, said method comprising: feedingthe objects to be graded onto a first conveyor, advancing said objectsalong a first and alternatively a second conveyor having first andalternatively second conveying speeds, arranging plurality of dividingplates side by side and longitudinally along the upper surface of saidconveyor, thereby forming a plurality of conveying channels therein-between, delivering said objects from said conveyor onto a grader ina uniform longitudinal direction of conveyance.
 10. A method accordingto claim 8, wherein the number of conveyors is two or more.